Ruth Hardy Funk

Ruth Hardy Funk was an accomplished musician and former general president of the Young Women organization of [http:Mormon.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints].

She was born on February 11, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She returned to Chicago with her husband, Marcus C. Funk, where he obtained his dental degree. She earned a degree in music from the University of Utah in 1938, the year they were married. They were the parents of four children.

Her love of music began when she began piano lessons at the age of five. She became an accomplished pianist and accompanist and was East High School’s music director from 1969 to 1972 and taught private piano lessons.

Funk served on the general board of the Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association, the precursor to the current Young Women organization, from 1946 to 1962. She helped produce “Promised Valley” at the Promised Valley Playhouse and YWMIA June conferences. In 1972, she was called to serve as the Young Women general president. The Personal Progress and Young Women Recognition program were implemented during her service. Also during her tenure, the YMMIA (Young Men) and the YWMIA were combined for two years. In 1974, the organizations were separated again and given their current titles. She also served on the executive committee of the National Council of Women during her administration. She was released in 1978.

Following her release, she was appointed as the chair of the Utah Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women. She was a member of the board of directors of Bonneville International Corporation. She also served on the Utah State Board of Education from 1985 to 1992, serving as a member and then chair. Funk also served on the Church Correlation Committee for the Church of Jesus Christ from 1962 to 1972.

Funk died on February 5, 2011, 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah.